On 5 October 2026, a delegation from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), led by Development Director Billy Stewart, visited the Transformative Artificial Intelligence Research and Innovation Lab (TAIRI Lab) to learn about the progress of the Lab and the impact of the support provided by FCDO.
The delegation comprised Billy Stewart, Development Director and Charge d’affaires, Ms Hannah Chirgwin, Deputy Head, Political and Governance Team and Frances Godfrey and was warmly received by the Principal of the University of Rwanda’s College of Science and Technology (CST), Prof. Ignace Gatare. In his remarks, Prof. Gatare commended FCDO for its support to TAIRI Lab, noting that the partnership is helping Rwanda develop responsible and inclusive AI solutions tailored to local needs.
He highlighted the contribution of TAIRI Lab to strengthening the ACEIoT as a Centre of Excellence, a key priority under UR’s research and innovation goal.
Prof. Gatare also noted that the Lab is contributing to raising the University of Rwanda’s profile and supporting its ambition to improve its position in global and African university rankings, while also providing accredited training in artificial intelligence.
“This partnership is more than research funding. It is an investment in Rwanda’s long-term ability to develop, manage and use AI responsibly,” he said.
During the visit, the delegation engaged with Master’s and PhD students supported through TAIRI Lab. The students presented their research projects, shared their experiences, and explained how they are applying AI to address real-world challenges and generate meaningful benefits for communities.
Speaking during the visit, Billy Stewart, Development Director at FCDO, commended the work being undertaken at TAIRI Lab, particularly the practical application of AI to address real-world challenges in Rwanda.
“I came here expecting to be impressed, but your work impressed me even more than I expected. The real-world problems you are addressing in Rwanda show how the work being done here can help communities in the future,” he said.
Stewart emphasized that the research demonstrates how AI can be used as a practical tool for development rather than simply as a technology for its own sake.
“You are not using AI simply for the sake of AI, but as a practical tool to address existing challenges and contribute to Rwanda’s national development,” he said.
He further noted that the work at TAIRI Lab is aligned with Rwanda’s national priorities on artificial intelligence.
“This is the message we are giving to our government partners. The work you are doing is very much aligned with the Government’s AI policy,” he added.
The visit provided an opportunity for the FCDO delegation to tour different other facilities mainly IoT lab, drone skills and knowledge hub and IoT incubation hub, interacted with students and project team and gained a deeper understanding of the research, innovation and capacity-building activities being implemented through TAIRI Lab, as well as the potential impact of these initiatives on Rwanda’s development.
TAIRI Lab is part of the Artificial Intelligence for Development (AI4D) programme, funded through a partnership between the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The programme seeks to foster safe, inclusive and responsible AI ecosystems that empower individuals and accelerate development and innovation.
